Becky Hammon, the highly successful head coach of the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA, recently commented on the significant news regarding her former mentor, Gregg Popovich, and his transition within the San Antonio Spurs organization. Hammon, who previously served as an assistant coach under Popovich, conveyed her happiness and fulfillment in her current role leading the Aces, while notably leaving the door open for a potential return to coaching in the NBA in the future.
Hammon’s Trailblazing Coaching Path
Before taking the helm of the Aces, Becky Hammon was a pioneer for women in professional men’s basketball coaching. Following a distinguished playing career in the WNBA, she joined the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich in 2014, a groundbreaking appointment at the time.
Over her seven seasons with the Spurs (2014-2021), she gained extensive experience on an NBA coaching staff. She further made history in December 2020, becoming the first woman to serve as an acting head coach in an NBA regular-season game after Popovich was ejected. Her resume also includes being the first woman head coach for an NBA Summer League team, which she led to a championship. These roles cemented her status as a promising coach with potential NBA head coaching aspirations.
Gregg Popovich’s Transition at the Spurs
The context for Hammon’s recent comments includes the news from the San Antonio Spurs on Friday that Gregg Popovich is transitioning into a full-time role as the team’s President of Basketball Operations. Popovich, a legendary figure widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, is stepping away from his head coaching duties on the bench after a long and storied career.
Mitch Johnson, who had served as the acting head coach for the Spurs after Popovich suffered a mild stroke in November, is now officially taking over as the head coach of the team. This marks a new era for the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff.
Reflecting on WNBA Success with the Aces
Despite her strong ties to the San Antonio Spurs and her experience coaching in the NBA, Becky Hammon has found significant success and satisfaction leading the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA. She joined the Aces in late 2021 and quickly made an impact, guiding the team to a WNBA championship in her very first season in 2022, becoming the first rookie coach to achieve this feat. She followed that up by leading the Aces to a second consecutive title in 2023. Her impressive coaching record with the Aces stands at 87-29 over three seasons.
Hammon spoke openly about her current happiness in the WNBA. “I’m super happy where I am,” she stated, emphasizing that the opportunity to coach the Aces was one she “couldn’t pass on.” She framed her decision to take the Aces job as betting on herself rather than “maybe waiting it out for a maybe [in the NBA],” referencing her candidacy for the Portland Trail Blazers coaching vacancy in 2021.
Hammon expressed her deep affection for her team and the WNBA game, saying, “You guys know I’m effusive about my love for this team and being back in the women’s game.” She recently coached the Aces in their first preseason game Friday night against Dallas at Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion.
Learning from a Legend: Mentorship Under Popovich
Hammon credits Gregg Popovich as being a “huge reason” for her career path as a head coach. She spoke fondly of her time learning from him during her eight years as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs. “That’s who mentored me, that’s who spent literally thousands of hours with me,” she shared, reflecting on the numerous games, practices, and coach meetings she attended while on his staff.
Upon hearing the news of his transition, Hammon texted Popovich and admitted her heart felt “a little heavy for him because I know how much he loves it,” referring to his passion for coaching on the sidelines. However, she expressed confidence that he will “crush this role just as much” in his full-time executive capacity.
Future Prospects: An Eye on the NBA
While clearly content and successful in her current role with the Las Vegas Aces, Becky Hammon has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the NBA as a head coach in the future. She outlined the criteria for such a move, stating that if she were to make that jump again, “it just has to be the right fit, right time, in front of the right people, with the right team.”
This measured approach acknowledges the challenges faced by women seeking head coaching roles in the NBA and suggests she would be selective about any potential opportunity. Her continued success in the WNBA only strengthens her resume and keeps her name prominent in discussions about future NBA coaching vacancies.
The Call to Coach the Aces
Taking the head coaching job with the Las Vegas Aces was a pivotal moment in Hammon’s career. It offered her the chance to lead her own team, implement her coaching philosophy derived from her time under Popovich, and build a winning culture from the ground up. The success she has achieved demonstrates her capabilities as a head coach, validating her decision to pursue this opportunity in the WNBA rather than potentially waiting indefinitely for an NBA head coaching position that may not have materialized.
A Unique Journey in Basketball
Becky Hammon’s career path is unique. As a former WNBA star player who then transitioned to a pioneering NBA assistant coaching role, achieved significant success, and subsequently returned to the WNBA as a championship-winning head coach, she holds a distinct perspective on the game at both the highest levels of men’s and women’s professional basketball. Her ongoing commentary on the leagues, her career decisions, and the influence of mentors like Gregg Popovich continue to make her a prominent and respected voice in the basketball world, with many watching to see what her next chapter might hold.
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